Display rack



Nov. 9, 1937. Y A. H. LUDwlcK 2,098,828

DISPLAY RACK Filed July 24. 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l A TTORNEYS.

Nov. 9, 1937. A. H. LUDwlcK DISPLAY RACK Filed July 24, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 k. :c R/ S @www EU R V/Wm mH+T f u mf An Patented Nov. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE t DISPLAY RACK Arthur H. Ludwick, Danville', Ill.

Application July Z4, 1936, Serial No. 92,397

1 Claim.

My invention relates to a display rack. It has to do, more specifically, with a display rack for displaying shoes or similar articles, although it is not necessarily limited thereto. It may be 5 used for displaying various types of articles.

In displaying articles in a store, for example, in a shoe store, it is desirable that the articles be displayed in such a manner that they may be readily seen and inspected by the customers. In

l a Shoe store it is desirable tc provide display racks for supporting samples of the shoes being sold in the store in such a manner that they may be inspected by the customer so that the customt er will know what shoes are in stock. However, l if any considerable number of shoes are displayed in the store, the display racks occupy a considerable portion of the much-needed space of the shoe store. These racks are usually located where they interfere with access to the stock. There is a need for some means for displaying shoes or other larticles in a store in such a manner that the ldisplaying means will not occupy much-needed iloo-r space in the store and which will be so located as not to interfere with access to the stock on the shelves of the store.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide means for displaying a large number of shoes or other articles in a store in such a manner that the displaying means will not take up much-needed floor space of the store and the displaying means will be so located as not to interfere with access to the stock located on the shelves of the store.

Another object of my invention is to provide means of the type indicated for attractively displaying a large number of shoes in such a manner that they may be readily removed for closer inspection.

In its preferred form my invention contemplates the provision of a plurality of disp-lay racks, each of which is adapted to support a large number of shoes. These display racks are mounted directly in front of the shelves provided for supporting the stock of the store in order g5 that the racks will not take up any appreciable amount of the much-needed floor space of the store. The racks are so mounted in front of the shelves that they may be readily moved to V different positions along the shelves so that the racks will not interferewith access to any portion of the shelves on which the stock is dispose-d. The preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View showing a display rack movably mounted in front of the shelves on which the stock is disposed, Y

Figure 2 is a detail in perspective, partly broken away, showing my rack.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section taken through the display rack and the adjacent shelves, illustrating the manner in which it is movab-ly mounted in front of the shelves.

Figure 4 is a detail in section, showing the 10 means for supporting the lower end of the display rack.

With reference to the drawings, 'andpartic-f ularly Figure 1, I have illustrated a display rack which is indicated generally by the numeral l.v I l15 have also illustrated a tier `of shelves, indicated generally by the numeral 2, which are'suitably located in the store, for example, against the Wall thereof. The shelves 2@ ksupport the stock S A which, in this instance, takes the form of a large i number of boxes which contain shoes. It will be noted that the rack I is supported directly in front of the shelves so that it will be readily visible and accessible to the customers and clerks but will not take up any appreciable amountof the much-.needed iioor space of the store. It will be apparentthat if the display rack l were immovably mounted directly in front of the shelves 2, it would be almost impossible to gain access to the stock on that portion of the shelves 2 behind the rack. Consequently, I mount the rack in such a manner that it may be moved along the shelves so that access may be readily gained to any portions of the shelves.

The rack l is illustrated best in Figures 1 and 35 2. It comprises. vertical side members 3 of considerable width and a transversely extending bottom member 4 of the same Width which is connected to the members 3 at the lower ends thereof. The members 3 are joined together at 40 their upper ends by means of a transversely eX- tending member 5 of narrow width. This member 5 is secured to the upper ends of the members 3 by means of brackets 6, as illustrated best in Figure 3. On the front of the rack a p1u' 45 rality of transverselyV extending strips 'l are mounted. These strips are arranged at vertically spaced intervals and have their ends inset in the forward edges of the members 3. Similar strips 8 are disposed on the rear side of the rack and 50 have their ends inset in the rear edges of the members 3. The members 8 are alsoA disposed at vertically spaced intervals but are in staggered relation to the members 1. VVConsequently, as i1- lustrated in the drawings, a row of shoes may 55 be supported on one set of the members 1 and 8. For reinforcing the rack, braces 9 may be provided at the lower end thereof. Also, reinforcing members I and Il may be provided on the front of the rack adjacent the top and bottom thereof and these members may be used as` sign members.

The means for mounting the rack in such a manner that it may be moved to different positions along the shelves is illustrated best in Figures 2 to 4, inclusive. It will be apparent from these figures that the bottom member 4 of the rack is provided with grooved rollers I2 which are rotatably mounted in the manner indicated best at Figure 4, being supported by member I3 secured to the member 4 by means of screws I4 or any other suitable means. Each roller is disposed in an opening I5 formed in the member 4. These grooved rollers are adapted to cooperate with a track I6 which is disposed directly in front of the shelves and extends longitudinally thereof. This track member I6 may be secured to the floor by screws or other means. In order to prevent the rack from tipping rearwardly or forwardly, while moving along the track I6, a pair of guide members I1 are provided adjacent theY upper end of the rack. These guide members extend longitudinally of the shelves and are supported by means of a plurality of spaced supporting members I8 which are secured to the shelves and extend forwardly therefrom. 'I'he members I1 are spaced from each other so that they will receive the member 5 therebetween. Thus, the Vmember 5 not only serves as a brace for the rack but also cooperates with the guideway formed between the members I1. It will be apparent that the guideway between the members I'I and the track I6 are located substantially in line with each other and are spaced forwardly from the shelves a suicient distance to prevent the shoes which are supported on the rack from contacting with the shelves or the stock supported thereon. l

Thus, it will be clear that the rack may be moved along the shelves to any position desired. The rack can be readily moved because it is supported on the track I6 by means of rollers. .Fur-

thermore, the guide 5 on the upper end of the rack projects into the guideway formed between guide I1 and will prevent tipping of the rack. It will be apparent that other means might be provided for supporting the rack in front of the shelves in such a manner that it may be moved therealong. For example, the rack might be suspended from the ceiling in such a manner that it could be readily moved along the shelves.

Although in Figure 1 I have illustrated only one rack disposed in front of the shelves, it will be apparent that any number of these racks may be provided, depending upon the length of the tier of shelves.

It Will be understood from the above that I have provided racks for effectively and attractively displaying a large number of shoes. These racks are disposed directly in front of the shelves and closely adjacent thereto so that they will not occupy any appreciable amount of the muchneeded floor space. Furthermore, the racks are so mounted that they may be readily moved tov various positions along the shelves and will not interfere with removal and replacement of stock on the shelves.

I do not intend to be limited to a rack of the particular construction shown and described or to the speciiic means shown and described for movably mounting the rack.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is: y

In combination with a pair of upper and lower vertically aligned guide members adapted to be secured respectively to vertical and horizontal surfaces, a vertically disposed rectangular boxlike open rack frame provided on opposite sides with a series of vertically spaced article supports, the supports on one, side being staggered with respect to the supports on the opposite side, the lower guide member V.being in the form of a track and the bottom wall of the frame being provided with rollers for engagement with the track, the upper guide member comprising a pair of spaced rails to receive the top member of the frame, whereby the frame is supported in vertical position for movement on said guide members.

A ARTHUR H. LUDWICK. 

